Archive for February, 2016

“… Thomas’ questions came Monday in case in which the court is considering placing new limits on the reach of a federal law that bans people convicted of domestic violence from owning guns. Thomas asked the Justice Department lawyer defending the government’s prosecution whether the violation of any other law suspends a person’s constitutional rights …”

Interesting. I wonder if he will end up being the heir to Antonin Scalia in being the intellectual anchor for an originalist interpretation of the Constitution.

I have to stress that this is only a temporary setback. Other good gun cases are still active around the country that may prove helpful over the long term to our cause in New York. That is the way to play the game, by thinking long term. Where will we be in 5, 10, 20+ years down the line?

“While big-money peddlers of death play dumb, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams shows savvy with a promise to help move bullet-riddled America to the sane adoption of smart guns. Adams says he’ll deliver $1 million from his budget to whichever New York college delivers the most promising plan for a firearm whose trigger can only be pulled by its authorized user — much like the smartphones most of us use every day …”

“… The beep, who’s an ex-police captain, also signed up the NYPD to test prototype high-tech firearms as the winning school develops them — trial runs that Adams hopes will drive smart guns’ adoption by law enforcement and beyond …”

Good. Mandate that the NYPD use them first and see what happens.

“… No measure could more obviously prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands — of toddlers, of criminals, of madmen, of terrorists. But scared off by boycott threats from the National Rifle Association and other gun cultists, the industry shelved smart-gun development long ago …”

Untrue. People have been trying to make “smart guns” since at least the early 70s. Decades of failure should be an indication there is a flaw in the concept.

“… In picking up where the gun industry fears to tread, Adams joins President Obama, who in his January executive orders on gun safety directed his departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Justice to also sponsor technology research. Brooklyn’s borough president has already succeeded in rousing NRA fanatic-in-chief Wayne LaPierre from his deep, dark cave, to have a spokesperson insist: “We’ve never been against the development of the technology. We’ve just been against the mandated use of it.” …”

It is not Eric’s money, it belongs to the taxpayer. If he really believes in this let him put up his own money to fund a startup. I’d suggest the same to the Daily News, but they’ve been losing money hand over fist already.

“… “When the district lines are drawn to favor one party over another, it becomes fait accompli — whoever the Democrats choose in a Democratic district, the Democrat will win, hands down,” said Dick Dadey, the executive director of the government watchdog group Citizens Union. “It amounts to more of a coronation.” …”

“… “The NYPD’s range officers will help work out the kinks,” said Adams, who thought of the idea after the murders of Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos in 2014. “We want to do something the NRA has prevented gun manufacturers from doing.” …”

“… The plan already has been blessed by City Hall. “The city is proud to take the lead in anti-gun violence strategies, and looks forward to testing out this new gun technology,” a spokeswoman said. The NRA didn’t respond to requests for comment.”